New Zealand Industries Trial Advanced GPS Technologies

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has kicked off a trial to look at how the country's industries could benefit from the latest satellite positioning technologies. Between now and early 2019, LINZ will be putting a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) to the test across 10 key industries.

The first New Zealand-based project is already underway with Christchurch-based location data intelligence consultancy, Orbica partnered with Reveal Infrastructure. Orbica are working to test the use of SBAS for locating underground assets. Mapping underground assets, such as water pipes and cables is a critical job, yet it’s very costly for the construction industry. Knowing where they are located reduces the chances of damage when digging in the area and can help with maintenance.

The New Zealand and Australian governments are funding the trial which is made up of some 30 projects across Australasia. Australia’s first project began last week, which is looking at how SBAS could help with precision agriculture and the tracking of livestock.